Uganda ready to host hundreds of UAE investors in upcoming key business forum

The Ugandan National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UNCCI) in partnership with the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has organized a business forum slated for November 13, 2024 in Kampala aimed at exploring trade and investment opportunities by entrepreneurs from the two countries.
Moses Okwalinga, the Secretary General of UNCCI, said the Uganda-UAE Trade an Investment Forum will seek to bring in one room business people from UAE and Uganda actively engaged in business.
“It’s a good opportunity because the UAE is a big trading partner with recent statistics showing that it’s currently our biggest trading partner,” Okwalinga said.
Olive Kigongo, the President of UNCCI, said top business leaders from Sharjah will be flying into the country to attend the much anticipated forum that will be hosted at Sheraton Hotel Kampala.
“We are looking at about 500 people from various sectors who are ready to do business between Uganda and the UAE. The Ugandan business community and members of the UNCCI will be part of the forum,” she said.
According to Ms Kigongo, Ugandans should not miss the opportunity to come and interact with potential business partners from Sharjah, which is the third-biggest city in UAE.
She explained that the forum seeks to promote one of the core principles of the ruling National Resistance Movement, which socio-economic transformation.
“The development principles of the UAE and Africanism should show economic transformation and democracy. So, the forum falls within the principle of socio-economic transformation, where we are seeking to move Uganda from an agro-based economy into a productive and industrialized economy,” Ms Kigongo said.
“We are hoping that this event will be unique because it will not just be a forum, but it will also be an opportunity for business people to have business-to-business meetings. The people who are coming are real investors who can make immediate decisions and not proxies. So, our people should come ready to discuss real opportunities,” Ms Kigongo added.
Ms Kigongo also said that the Government had liberalized the economy, allowing foreigners to enjoy various investment opportunities in the country.
“Uganda is a peaceful country, with a wide basket of investment opportunities ranging from agriculture, manufacturing, ICT, oil and gas, mining and many others. Value-addition is one of the core messages the President has been promoting among exporters. This forum will bring in more of such investors,” Ms Kigongo said.

ABOUT UNCCI
The National Chamber of Commerce is the oldest business association of the private sector in Uganda, which was founded in 1993. It has membership from all sectors and spreads across the country in 129 districts, offering all sorts of services, which include advocating for members interests, opening up to new markets, market access, issuance of certificates of origin, and to promote the interests of the private sector through various ways.
“So we encourage all the members of the business community to join us at UNCCI so that we develop Uganda together,” Ms Kigongo noted.